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The Italian has often been beaten in sprints but this time victory slipped his grasp after first Filippo Pozzato (Wilier Triestina) and then eventual winner Roger Kluge (IAM Cycling) attacked to catch the peloton by surprise. Pozzato faded and was caught by the peloton but Nizzolo could only sprint in for second place as Kluge celebrated with an arm in the air.

"I can't deny I let out my anger after the finish line. When you do a good sprint like I did but still finish second, with just a lone attacker ahead of you, it's normal and understandable not to be happy," Nizzolo explained.

The result was Nizzolo's 13th podium finish at the Giro without ever having won. He has been second nine times and has finished third four times. Only Pietro Rimoldi in the 1930s has more podiums with out a win, finishing second five times and third another nine.

"It was the result that got to me," Nizzolo said. "I really wanted to win here because its close to my home –I'm from Milan, and there were lots of family and fans club here. I'm still smiling because I think I gave it everything and there wasn't anything else we could do. We haven't got any regrets as a team. We chased the break all day and did what we could in he final with one rider less. When Kluge jumped away after Pozzato, I knew it would be dangerous but I still gave it everything, just like always.

"We can't do more than we are doing. Karma is against me; I don't know what I have done wrong to have this, but for sure there are worse things in life. We just need to keep going. We have to accept another second place, but we keep our heads high."

Nizzolo will now target the final finish in Turin. The 163km stage is flat and ends with eight laps of a city centre circuit. It's a final promenade stage, designed to give the sprinters one last chance to shine as the overall winner celebrates victory.

Nizzolo again pulled on the red points jersey but his lead in the race-long completion is under threat fro Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida).

The Tuscan fought for points at the intermediate sprint and has a chance of scoring points on Thursday's stage to Pinerolo that includes a tough climb in the finale. If Ulissi wins the stage and scores 50 points, he will take the lead in the points competition by just points. Nizzolo will then have to survive the two big mountain stages in the Alps in the hope of taking enough points in Turin to take back the jersey.

"It's going to be an interesting fight with Ulissi for the points jersey," Nizzolo admitted. "But its not an equal fight because we're two different kinds of rider. If I lose the red jersey to another sprinter I'd be angry but if he wins, I can only congratulate him."

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